Sweet viburnum is an evergreen shrub native to the Himalayas and Japan that earns its common name from intensely fragrant white flowers blooming in late spring through early summer. Growing 12 to 18 feet tall and wide, it produces showy funnel-shaped flowers in conical clusters followed by ornamental red fruits that mature to black and attract birds. Hardy in zones 7 to 9, this low-maintenance shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade with moderate water and performs well as a hedging plant or specimen shrub in warmer climates.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-9
216in H x 216in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
The fragrance is the real draw here: dense conical flower clusters up to 6 inches long release an intensely sweet scent from late spring through early summer. Following the flowers comes a bonus display of red fruits that gradually turn black, creating a two-season show that birds find irresistible. The thick, leathery olive-green foliage stays ornamental year-round in its hardiness zones, and the plant asks very little once established.
Sweet viburnum serves primarily as an ornamental hedge or specimen shrub in garden landscapes. Its dense evergreen foliage and fragrant spring flowers make it valuable for screening and privacy plantings, while the bright red fruits ripening to black provide visual interest and food for birds and butterflies throughout the seasons.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant into the garden in spring or fall, spacing plants 12 to 18 feet apart depending on your desired hedge density. In zone 7, wait until after the last frost and choose a protected location with afternoon shade. Water deeply after transplanting and maintain consistent soil moisture through the first growing season.
Prune sweet viburnum after flowering to maintain shape and size, cutting back to just above leaf nodes. This timing allows you to enjoy the fragrant blooms while removing old growth before the plant sets fruit. Light pruning keeps the shrub dense and promotes better flowering.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki originates from a wide geographic range stretching from the Himalayas across to Japan, where it has grown in cultivation for centuries. This botanical variety represents a distinct clone selected and maintained within the broader species, reflecting the plant's long history in Asian gardens and landscapes. The variety has become established in American horticulture through botanical institutions and nurseries, particularly in warm-climate regions where its evergreen habit and fragrant flowers are valued.”